Commemorative biographical record of Hartford County, Connecticut : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families, Pt 1, Part 158

Author: J.H. Beers & Co
Publication date: 1901
Publisher: Chicago : J.H. Beers & Co.
Number of Pages: 1336

USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > Commemorative biographical record of Hartford County, Connecticut : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families, Pt 1 > Part 158

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To our subject and wife have been born two children : Jennie L. and Robert S., both at home. Mr. and Mrs. Forbes are prominent members of the M. E. Church, liberal contributors, and among its most active workers. Mrs. Forbes is a member of its Home and Foreign Missionary Societies, president of the Ladies Society, and assistant li- brarian of the Sabbath-school, in which Mr. Forbes is a teacher. The family occupies the elegant Jo- seph Merriman home, one of the best in East Hart- ford, and possessing a most delightful location, which has been owned by Mr. Forbes since 1881.

Mr. Forbes is a charter member of Lafayette Council, No. 37, O. U. A. M., at East Hartford, and also of the Royal Arcanum at East Hartford. In politics he is a stanch Republican, and he represented East Hartford in the State Legislature at the time of the celebrated "deadlock." While not an active politician, he takes a keen interest in the party suc- cess. Mr. Forbes is an admirer of good horses, and a good judge as well. As a business man he has clean-cut methods, attending closely to the affairs

of his office, and attaining more than ordinary suc- cess. He is one of the most prosperous business men in East Hartford. In manner he is quiet and unostentatious, a man of few words, but thoroughly business-like in all his methods. The family has high social standing, and fitly represents and per- petuates the prominence and high character which have been its portion in previous generations.

ISAAC EDWARD ALLING. Among the prom- inent and substantial farmers of the town of Berlin, is the subject of this sketch, who, in his earlier life, for a number of years followed the carriage-making trade, abandoning it to return to the farm. He is progressive in his methods, industrious and pros- perous, and is one of the best-known agriculturists of the town.

Mr. Alling is a great-grandson of Rev. Abraham Alling, who was born about 1754, and became one of the best-known Connecticut Congregational min- isters of a century ago. He was the first pastor of the Congregational Church at Whitneyville, serv- ing continuously from 1795 to 1823. He was or- dained Oct. 19, 1797, and was dismissed in 1822, at his own request. He died in 1837, aged eighty- three years. Ezra Alling, the grandfather of our subject, was a well-known agriculturist of Hamden and North Haven, and with his wife was buried in Hamden cemetery. Charles Noyes Alling, the fa- ther of our subject, was born at Hamden Feb. 2, 1822. He was reared on the farm, but acquired a knowledge of the carriage maker's trade, and for many years he was a successful carriage maker. About 1851 he removed from Hamden to Kensing- ton, where he owned and operated a carriage fac- tory, employing from eight to ten men. In later life he retired to the farm. He was an indusrious, hard-working man, and became quite well-to-do. In 1848 he married Delia Angeline Baldwin, a de- scendant of the well-known Welles family of Weth- ersfield. Both the parents of our subject are buried in West Lane cemetery, Kensington. In politics Charles Noyes Alling was a stanch Republican. He served as justice of the peace, was on the board of relief and grand jury for a number of years, and filled various other minor offices. He was an ac- tive member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and was one of the trustees of the First Metliodist Episcopal Church of Kensington. He died Oct. 8, 1887, aged sixty-five years.

Isaac Edward Alling, our subject, was born on the old homestead in Kensington Dec. 4, 1852, was reared on the farm and received his early edu- cation in the district schools, later attending for two years the New Britain High School. Mr. All- ing then entered his father's shop and worked con- tinuously at carriage making for about ten years. Purchasing a farm of 130 acres, adjoining the home farm, he removed to this property, operating it for about twelve years, when he exchanged it for the Adonijah Strong farm of 117 acres in East Berlin,

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and removed to that desirable tract of land, which he now occupies. Mr. Alling also owns other land in Berlin town, and is engaged in general farming.

Mr. Alling married, Nov. 16, 1881, Miss Jennie Louise Bradbury, who was born April 14, 1863, daughter of John and Adeline (Gladding) Brad- bury, of the town of Berlin. The family of our subject and wife consists of the following children : Stella May, born Feb. 6, 1883, a student of the New Britain high school: Grace Louise, born July 13. 1885, a student of the New Britain grammar school ; Ruth Inez, born Nov. 29, 1887, a student of the New Britain grammar school; Edward, born March 11, 1894; and Leon Isaac, born Jan. 7, 1898. Mr. Alling in politics is an earnest Republican, but has never sought office. He attends the Methodist Episcopal Church of East Berlin, of which his wife is an active member.

CHARLES BALDWIN ALLING, son of Charles Noyes and Delia Angeline ( Baldwin) Alling, was born Feb. 25, 1850, at Mt. Carmel, in the town of Hamden. He received his education in the schools of Berlin and in the high school of New Britain, then began life in wood-working in his father's carriage shop. A year later he entered the carriage works of Benjamin Manville & Co., at New Haven, remaining about a year. For eighteen years he was then employed as carriage maker for James Vile & Sons, in New Britain, after which he was in the shops of Solomon North, of Plainville, for two years. He retired from that position to engage in his pres- ent work with W. R. Adams, at New Britain. Mr. Alling owns a farm of forty-one acres in Kensing- ton, which he does not operate. He attends the services of the Congregational Church. In politics he is a Republican ; has served as grand juror, was a juror in the Superior Court in 1379, and for years has been justice of the peace in Kensington.

LYMAN ALLYN UPSON. The world re- spects the man whose success is worthily achieved, and who, by overcoming the obstacles and diffi- culties in his path, has reached a nigh position in the business world. This is a progressive age, and he who does not advance is soon left far behind. Mr. Upson, by the improvement of opportunities with which all are surrounded, has steadily and honorably advanced, and has attained a fair degree of prosperity. He is to-day one of the most enter- prising and prominent business men of Thompson- ville.

Mr. Upson was born in Westfield, Mass., July 23, 1841, a son of Willis and Harriet (Allyn) Up- son, the former also a native of Westfield, the lat- ter of Windsor, Conn. He is of Puritan stock, and his ancestors on the paternal side came with Rev. Thomas Hooker's congregation to Hartford about 1634. His grandfather, Simeon Upson, a native of Southington, Hartford county, was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and after that struggle removed to Westfield, Mass., where he

engaged in farming until called from this life, in 1839. Our subject's maternal grandfather, Free- man Allyn, was a native of Groton, Conn., and a son of Nathan Allyn, who was also born in Groton, and during the Revolution served for two years. in the Colonial navy, on the privateer "Marquis de La Fayette." After the close of the war he went to the Black River country, in central New York, and later to the Western Reserve, Ohio, where he made his home until his death. He had several brothers who were also members of the Continental army: Capt. Timothy Allyn, who was in the serv- ice seven years; Capt. Simeon Allyn, who was un- der the command of Gen. Gallup, and was killed in the defense of Fort Griswold, near Groton, Conn. ; and Capt. Robert Allyn. Willis Upson, our subject's father, was born in 1805, and spent his entire life in Westfield, Mass., where he carried on business as a carpenter and bunder. He died in 1890; the mother is still living, at the advanced age of ninety-three years.

Reared in Westfield, Lyman A. Upson was ed- ucated in the public schools and the Massachusetts State Normal School at that place, from which lat- ter he graduated in 1860, and after a course pre- paratory for college, which was interrupted by the breaking out of the Civil war, he enlisted, June 29, 1861, in the 62d N. Y. V. I., known as the Anderson Zouaves. He served three years in the army of the Potomac, participating in the Peninsu- lar campaign under Gen. MeClellan; the siege of Fredericksburg under Burnside; Chancellorsville, under Hooker ; Gettysburg, under Meade ; and from the Rapidan to Petersburg under Grant. At the battle of the Wilderness he was made a non-com- missioned officer with the rank of corporal, and when his term of service had expired he was hon- orably discharged in front of Petersburg, June 29. 1864.

The following August Mr. Upson came to Thompsonville, Conn., and entered the office of the Hartford Carpet Co. as assistant superintendent, with which corporation he has ever since been con- nected, having filled the responsible position of superintendent of the works since 1878. His work in connection with his duties for the Hartford Car- pet Co. he considers the most important of his life. Since his connection with the Hartford Carpet Co. the works have been increased fourfold: the scattered departments assembled for the more economic manufacturing, and old machinery re- placed with modern. Mr. Upson is the inventor of several machines connected with carpet manu- facturing which have proved very valuable, and among these may be mentioned the repeating ma- chine for repeating pattern cards for the Jacquard machine, and a lacing machine for lacing the same. That he has labored with his heart in his work is evident from his continued efforts and the success which has steadily attended them, and to him may justly be credited, in a great measure, the con-

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tinued and constantly increasing prosperity of this concern. In his connection therewith Mr. Upson has gained a high standing in commercial circles as a business man of unquestioned ability, and an earnest worker in his particular line. Mr. Upson is also president of the Thompsonville Trust Co .; president and treasurer of the Enfield Electric Light & Power Co .; secretary and treasurer of the En- field & Long Meadow Electric Rainway ; a director of the Suffield & Thompsonville Bridge Co .; and chairman of the board of sewer commissioners of Thompsonville. He is a man of broad capabilities, carrying forward to successful completion what- ever he undertakes, and is accounted one of the most progressive, enterprising and reliable busi- ness men of the community.

On Oct. 17, 1871, Mr. Upson was united in marriage with Miss Emma Douglass, a daughter of George A. and Caroline ( Abbe) Douglass, of Suf- field, Conn., and of the children born to this union three are living: Irene B. (now Mrs. James B. Jordan), Caroline A. and Lillian A. On Sept. 4, 1899, Mr. and Mrs. Upson were sadly bereaved in the death of their son and youngest child, Doug- lass G., while out hunting. He was climbing over a fence, when the top rail broke, letting him down so that his gun was accidentally discharged, kill- ing him.

Mr. Upson is a member of the Ecclesiastical Committee of the First Presbyterian Church, of Thompsonville ; is past commander of Samuel Brown Post, No. 56, G. A. R., of the same place ; and a member of the American Society Mechanical Engineers; and the American Society, Connecticut Sons of the Revolution. Politically he is a stanchi Republican, and in 1875 represented Enfield town in the State Legislature.

GEORGE O. BEACH. Prominent among the enterprising, energetic and successful business men of the town of Granby, is the subject of this review, the well-known president of the Granby Agricultural Society, and also president of the Granby Creamery Co. He is to-day one of the most substantial citizens of the town, and his con- nection with various business enterprises and indus- tries has been a decided advantage to the county, promoting its material welfare in no uncertain manner.

Mr. Beach was born on the old Beach homestead, in West Granby, Sept. 11, 1844, and is a worthy rep- resentative of an old and honored New England family. Ilis paternal grandfather, Oliver Beach, was a native of New Haven county, Conn., where he grew to manhood, receiving only a limited educa- tion in the district schools. Throughout his life he followed agricultural pursuits, and when a young man took up his residence on a farm in Burlington, Hartford county, but later removed to a farm of 150 acres in West Granby, where he made many im- provements, and spent the remainder of his life.

Politically he was a Democrat, and religiously he and his family were adherents of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He first married Clarinda by whom he had six children: Emeline, wife of James Gillett ; Clarissa; Oliver, father of our sub- ject ; William; Sydney ; and Maryette. For his sec- ond wife he wedded Mrs. Rosanna Allen, but there were no children by that union. Both now sleep in the West Granby cemetery.

Oliver Beach, our subject's father, was born in Burlington Jan. 12, 1812, and accompanied his par- ents on their removal to West Granby, where he grew to manhood, and was educated in the common schools. Although his educational advantages were rather limited, he was a close observer and great reader, and thus became a well-informed man. He owned and operated a valuable farm of 300 acres, was also interested in the manufacture of lumber, conducting a sawmill on his farm, and engaged in distilling to some extent. He was noted for his honesty and fair dealings, and had the confidence and high regard of all with whom he came in con- tact. As a Jacksonian Democrat he took an active part in political affairs, and represented the town of Granby in the State Legislature one term, was se- lectman one term, and second selectman for many years. In religious faith he was a Methodist. He died upon his farm March 25, 1868, and was laid to rest in Granby cemetery. On June 1, 1837, in North Canton, Hartford county, Mr. Beach married Miss Lavinia Mercy Case, who was born there Feb. 14, 1810, and they became the parents of three children : Sabra Lavinia, now the widow of Harvey Godard; Sophia, wife of Miles J. Rose, of Granville, Mass .; and George O., whose name opens this sketch. The mother is still living and quite active, although ninety years of age, and now makes her home with her daughter, Mrs. Rose, in Granville, Mass. She is a good Christian woman, faithful member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Mrs. Lavinia M. (Case) Beach is a descendant of John Case, the pioneer, through his son William. Amasa Case (I), son of James and Esther ( Fithen) Case, grandson of William and Elizabeth ( Hol- comb) Case, and great-grandson of the original John Case, was born Oct. 18, 1731, in Terrys Plains, Simsbury. He spent his entire life on the Case homestead, where he was engaged in general farm- ing, and his remains now rest in the cemetery at Simsbury. He was married (first) in 1752, to Miss Elizabeth Hoskins, who was born in 1732, daugh- ter of Robert Hoskins. In 1766 he married a widow, Mrs. Viets, who died in 1785. His third wife, Abigail Philips Griswold, daughter of David Philips, died Oct. 4, 1794, and he afterward mar- ried Mrs. Charity Cornish, daughter of John Pet- tibone; after her death, which occurred Oct. 5, 1803, he married a fifth wife, Mrs. Sarah Graham, a daughter of Benajah Humphrey, who had herself been previously married three times. By the first

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marriage Amasa Case (I) had the following chil- dren : Amasa (2) ; Aaron, born June 16, 1755, died March 24, 1811; Elizabeth, born Aug. 15, 1756, died Dec. 2, 1822; Stephen, born Oct. 6, 1758; Mary, born Jan. 2, 1760 ; and Mehitabel, born March 8, 1762. By his second marriage he also had six children : Apollos, born Aug. 1, 1768, married Polly Frazier, and died June 15, 1827; Ruth, born Sept. 30, 1770; Julius, born Feb. 20, 1773, died May 17, 1773; Enoch, born May 10, 1774, died July 27, 1799; Salome, born Dec. 1, 1777 ; and Chloe.

Amasa Case (2) was born Oct. 29, 1753, on the homestead at Terrys Plains, Simsbury, and died June 23, 1843. When a young man he removed to what is now Hoskins Station, in the Westover Plains District, and engaged in farming, which oc- cupation he continued throughout his life. For many years he served as deacon in the church. His wife, Mercy (Hillyer), was born in 1763, and died Sept. 3, 1809. They had ten children : Amasa (3), born Feb. 17, 1780, died June 8, 1851; Philetus is mentioned below; Stephen born Jan. 17, 1784; Mercy, born July 13, 1785, married Peter Mason ; Charlotte, born Sept. 28, 1787, married Dr. Timothy Phelps; Nathaniel married Ann Maria Case; Saloma married Adolphus Chaffee; Buckland, born in 1800, married Sally Holcomb, and died May 8, 1845: Julius; and Chauncey.

Philetus Case, father of Mrs. Beach, and grand- father of our subject, was born Feb. 2, 1782, at Westover Plains, Simsbury, and died Dec. 20, 1827. When a young man he removed to Canton (now West Simsbury), where he bought a farm and spent the rest of his days, engaged in stock raising and general farming. Politically he was a Demo- crat, but he never sought office. On Aug. 12, 1804, he married Lucinda Reed, who was born June 12, 1783, and died Sept. 25, 1862. She was a woman of marked ability, as was shown by her successful management of the estate after the death of her husband, and under her wise and loving care a large family of children were reared to lives of usefulness. Of the children, (1) Jarvis Philetus, born June 9, 1805, was engaged in the clock business. (2) Sophia Lucinda, born Aug. 29, 1807, was mar- ried Aug. 18, 1844, to Jephtha Rose, now deceased. She died June 2, 1900. (3) Lavinia Mercy is the mother of our subject. (4) Morgan, born March 17, 1812, was a farmer in Avon, Conn., and died March 23, 1875, unmarried. (5) Sabra Parmilla, born June 14, 1814, died Aug. 8, 1824. (6) Sey- mour Nathaniel, who was a prominent lawyer of Hartford, was born Oct. 10, 1816, and died Nov. 26, 1872. (7) Luna, born Dec. 10, 1818, was mar- ried Aug. 18, 1836, to Willis Edgerton, and after his death she wedded William Beach, of Bristol, Conn. (8) Lucia, born Sept. 16, 1821, married Franklin Case. (9) Maria, born May 22, 1823, married Clement Holcomb, of Granville, Massa- chusetts.

During his boyhood and youth George O. Beach

pursued his studies in the public schools of the town of Granby, and Granby Academy, and on leaving home at the age of eighteen, went to Hartford, where he spent two years in reading law in the office of Seymour N. Case, an uncle. His father's illness prevented him from completing his prepara- tion for the legal profession, and, deciding to aban- don it, he returned home. After his father's death our subject, then twenty-three years of age, took charge of the farm with his widowed mother, and in connection with general farming he became inter- ested in tobacco culture. In 1882 he was one of the organizers of the Granby Creamery Co., is one of its largest stockholders, and since 1883 has served as its president, to the entire satisfaction of all con- cerned. He is a man of excellent business ability, and much of the success of the enterprise is due to his able management. He is also interested in dairying, for that purpose keeping upon his farm a fine herd of Jersey cows, and has real-estate in- terests in Iowa, Kansas and other parts of the West. Mr. Beach generally carries forward to successful completion whatever he undertakes. Both he and his wife are active members of the Granby Agricul- tural Society, of which he is now president, and he is a stanch supporter of the Democratic party. He has been chairman of the Democratic central com- mittee, keeps well posted on the political questions and issues of the day, and as one of the popular and influential citizens has been honored with election to a number of official positions, serving as selectman for a number of terms, assessor, and member of the board of relief and school board. In 1876 he was also elected, on the Democratic ticket, to the State Legislature. He is an active worker in the Metho- dist Episcopal Church, of which he has been trustee for several years, and is always ready to give his support to any enterprise for the good of his com- munity. His genial temperament, sound judgment and well-proved integrity have brought him the esteem and friendship of a host of acquaintances, far and near.

In West Granby, May 11, 1869, Mr. Beach wedded Miss Mary J. Ellsworth, a native of Wind- sor, and to them have been born four children: (I) George Ellsworth, born Jan. 12, 1871, is a graduate of McLean's Seminary, Simsbury, and is now a cigar manufacturer of Sioux City, Iowa. He was married Sept. 5, 1894, to Elsie J. Sheldon, who died Sept. 1, 1898. (2) Oliver Jarvis, born Sept. 18, 1872, is a graduate of Yale Business College, New Haven, and is also a graduate of Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, Penn., class of 1900. (3) Clara M., born Nov. 4, 1875, is a graduate of the Connecticut Collegiate Literary Institute, Suffield, and is now at home. (4) Bertha S., born May 6, 1884, is still in school. The family are adherents. of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Jehu Phelps Ellsworth, Mrs. Beach's father, was a native of Lowville, N. Y., and was educated in the public schools. At an early day he came to Wind-

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sor, Hartford Co., Conn., and there and in other sec- tions of the county engaged in the work of the ministry as a local preacher of the Methodist Epis- copal Church. At the age of fifty-two he removed to Winsted, Litchfield county, where he preached for two years, and then came to Granby, and here passed the remainder of his life. In politics he was first a Whig, later a Republican. He was well known and highly respected, and had many friends in Hartford county. He was married three times, his first wife being Ruth Phelps, of Windsor, by whom he had one child, Eli, now a resident of New York City. After her death, which occurred in Windsor, he wedded Mary Moffett, and to them were born two children : Jared Wells, an Episcopal min- ister of Naugatuck, Conn .; and Mary Janette, wife of our subject. The mother of these children also died in Windsor, and for his third wife Mr. Ells- worth married Susan Wakefield, of Colebrook, who is still living at the age of eighty-nine years.

CHARLES LESTER LUCE. The subject of this sketch, one of the enterprising and popular young farmers of Newington, is a native of Hart- ford county, and a member of one of its old and well-known families. He is a son of Joshua and Joannna (Brewer) Luce, a great-grandson of Joshua Luce, who was born and died in Tolland, and a grandson of Lester and Sophia (Latimer) Luce, early settlers of Newington. Lester Luce, the grandfather, was born Nov. 2, 1797, in Tolland, and died April 1, 1883. Joshua Luce, the father of our subject, was born May 1, 1826, on the farm on Church street, Newington, where our subject now lives. He was a farmer through life, and also an extensive cattle dealer. To him and his wife were born three children, besides our subject, as follows : Mrs. Mary (Luce) Carpenter lives in Plainville, Conn .; Mrs. Nellie (Luce) Eddy (a widow) lives at home in Newington ; Miss Anna B. also resides in Newington.

Charles Lester Luce was born Jan. 27, 1865, in the home he now occupies. He attended the public schools of Newington, and later the New Britain schools for two years. At the death of his father in November, 1884, the duties and responsibilities of the farm fell wholly upon his shoulders. But the young man proved equal to the occasion, and has already displayed great ability as a progressive farmer. The homestead consists of 200 acres, and our subject has very successfully managed its affairs since the death of his father, raising large crops of corn, potatoes, etc. He also keeps trom twenty to thirty cows and sells the milk at retail. The farm, called Red Rock Farm, is located on Church street, three miles directly east from New Britain.

Mr. Luce was married, Dec. 29, 1892, to Miss Harriet Rockwell Dorman, born Oct. 6, 1869, only daughter of Walter and Abigail (Rockwell) Dor- man, of Newington. The married life of our sub- ject was brief, terminated by the sad death of his

estimable young wife, who died Nov. 2, 1895, and was buried in Newington. Mr. Luce is a member of Newington Grange, in which he at present holds the office of assistant steward. He is a member of the Congregational Church, and chairman of the Ecclesiastical Society of the church. In politics he holds to the Republican faith, but in local elections uses his influence in behalf of the best candidates for office. He now lives on the home place with his mother. He is highly esteemed by his neighbors, and has many friends and few enemies. He enjoys an excellent standing in the community for his many sterling qualities.

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Commemorative biographical record of Hartford County, Connecticut : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families, Pt 1, Part 158

Author: J.H. Beers & Co Publication date: 1901 Publisher: Chicago : J.H. Beers & Co. Number of Pages: 1336

Author: J.H. Beers & Co
Publication date: 1901
Publisher: Chicago : J.H. Beers & Co.
Number of Pages: 1336